Morphometric Analysis of Offspring Ovary in Mice Following Oxaliplatin Treatment during Perinatal Period Using Stereology Technique

Oxaliplatin is a third-generation of platinum drug which is the main therapeutic agent for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Oxaliplatin not only inhibits DNA replication but also transcription and also induces apoptosis or necrosis in cancer cells and rapidly dividing cell lines. Although it is widely used clinically, there is no enough information regarding its effect on ovarian structure. This study was designed to determine morphometric features of 30- and 60-day-old offspring ovaries using precise and unbiased stereological technique following administration of oxaliplatin during perinatal period in mice.

In the present experimental study, 32 adult female mice were used for experimental (pre-pregnant, pregnant and lactation) and control groups. Mice were placed in separate cages for mating. Control group received 0.2 ml saline intraperitoneally (IP) during 21 days of pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and lactation periods. Experimental groups including pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and lactation groups received 3 mg/kg oxaliplatin thrice in a week IP during 21 days before mating, during pregnancy and lactation periods, respectively. At the 30th and 60th postnatal days (PND), the offspring were euthanized and the ovaries from eight offspring in each group were collected for stereological analysis.

The results showed that the mean volume oocytes of antral and preantral follicles and also the mean volume of antral follicles were decreased in experimental groups in comparison with the control group in 30 PND offspring (p<0.05). In 60 PND, offspring, the total volume of follicles, mean volume of antral follicles and also mean volume of oocyte of antral follicles in experimental groups showed significant decrease in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). Total volume of ovary, cortical volume and mean volume of preantral follicles decreased in pregnant experimental group compared to control group (p<0.05).

The present results demonstrated that oxaliplatin induces adverse effect on the morphometrical features of the ovary following administration during the perinatal period especially in pregnancy time.